​

Lorries and Lorikeets

​

Characterized by their specialized brush- tipped  tongues for feeding on nectar of various blossoms and soft fruits, preferably berries

​

The usage of the terms "lory" and "lorikeet" is subjective, like the usage of "parrot" and "parakeet". The Lorikeet is slender with a long tapering tail, the Rainbow being the most popular. Lories are stockier with squared-off tails with the Chattering Lory being the most popular.

 Their bright cheery personality matches their colorful feathers. If you can deal with the mess they make, you will be hard pressed to find a more colorful bird than the Rainbow Lory.

 

DIET

Lorikeets should not be fed seed. There are several recipes for lorikeet diets available as well as good commercial mixes. My preference is to have a dry lorikeet mix always available, with a wet nectar mix provided fresh each day, along with plentiful fruit. Apple, pear, grapes, melon, paw paw, mango, oranges and tangerines are all usually enthusiastically eaten. In fact virtually any fruit except avocado can be given. Water, both as drinking and for bathing, is also required.

 

Personality

It seems best to keep a single Lorikeet unless you are going to breed them. They don’t always get along with other birds in captivity. A hand-fed lory will want all your attention and not want to share you with others. They can become very aggressive if they think their territory or perceived possessions are threatened.

The Chattering Lory and the Moluccan Lory are said to have the best speech. The smaller Lorikeets may only learn a few words at best. They don’t have clear voices like the African Grey, but they do speak.

​

Lories are very active, spending their days climbing, playing and hanging upside down. They love foot toys and toys that they can swing around on.